Legislative Wrap-Up, 0314 ALBJ, 75 The Alabama Lawyer 142 (2014)

• Author: Othni J. Lathram, J.

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

Vol. 75, No. 2, Pg. 142

Alabama Bar Lawyer

March, 2014

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0 Othni J. Lathram, J.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0For more information about the institute, visit www.ali.state.al.us.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The 2014 Session-One Week In

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The 2014 Legislative Session is underway, having just completed the first week. The legislature was off to a quick start with a three-legislative-day week and each body holding a number of committee meetings in order to get many bills moving through the process. While there has been talk that this session will not be controversial, there appears to still be a good bit of heavy lifting going on.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The first week began, as is customary, with an address from the governor on the state of affairs for Alabama. While Governor Bentley relayed an upbeat perspective, this presentation left little doubt that there will be significant labor that needs to be done on the budgets once again. While the budget stabilization act has left the Education Trust Fund in position to meet the needs of that budget, the General Fund continues to struggle. Alabama is well served with two lawyers in leadership positions on this very important front. Senator Arthur Orr chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee and Representative Bill Poole chairs the House Ways and Means Education Committee.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0In the early weeks of the session, the house of representatives will likely focus on the agenda set forth by the house Republican caucus that holds a significant majority. These bills are centered largely on tax relief and accountability:

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Small Business Tax Relief Act-Rep. Barry Moore (HB 151)

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0The Small Business Tax Relief Act will raise the threshold for making estimated payments of sales tax from $1,000 to $2,500 per month.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Business Tax Streamlining Act-Rep. Greg Wren (HB 108)

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0This bill would simplify the process for filing business personal property taxes. The bill will create a new on line tax filing system that provides a one-stop location for filing these taxes and will also allow businesses claiming $10,000 or less in business personal property tax to file a short form that does not require them to...